East-African women’s thoughts on stimulating the growth of their mid-scale enterprises

Patricia Isabirye, Lia M. Hewitt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Some of the obstacles to successful entrepreneurship in emerging economies are embedded in the internal operations and management of enterprises, especially women mid-scale enterprises. This includes the lack of effective strategies that promote the growth of women-owned mid-scale enterprises and their inclination towards necessity-based entrepreneurship, which greatly limits their growth potential. Aim: The study explored the experience and know-how of strategies applied by three high-profiled women-owned mid-scale enterprises in East Africa to stimulate their business growth. Methods: A qualitative research approach, using perspective seeking methods by applying unrestrictive semi-structured questioning was adopted. Results: Findings suggest that women must embrace, recognise and own their internal aspirations and ambition to grow their mid-scale enterprise. Conclusion: Women-owned mid-scale enterprises showed the need to map out their strategic growth plan and it must be built on a solid foundation to justify the need to grow for all stakeholders to buy into it.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbera435
JournalSouthern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • East Africa
  • entrepreneurship
  • growth plan
  • growth strategies
  • stakeholders
  • women-owned mid-scale enterprises

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Strategy and Management
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Development

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